vase with lotus flowers, unknown maker from Korea

Archive Label 2003:
The two flat sides of this sizeable vase are decorated with symmetrically arranged lotuses complemented by sprays of blossoming reeds. The neck and base are encircled with bands of overlapping lotus petals. These elegant designs were created by inlay. Chinese potters used the inlay technique, and Korean potters, drawing on metalworking and lacquer-ware skills, further developed it.

Inlay became the decorating technique for celadon wares only after a glaze of sufficient clarity was developed in the first half of the 11th century. The time-consuming process begins with incising the chosen motif into the leather-hard clay body. The incision is then filled with white and black slip. The decorated piece is fired first at a low temperature, covered with a celadon glaze, and fired a second time at high temperature. This vase is a good example of clearly visible designs under a thin, transparent glaze.